1. Bulk carriers collision, British Columbia
Bulk carrier GOLDEN CECILIE dragged her anchor on Mar 30 at anchorage between Pender and Satuna islands, British Columbia, Canada. The ship drifted onto anchored bulk carrier GREEN K MAX 1, their anchors entangled, GOLDEN CECILE understood to suffer a small hole portside above waterline. Both ships moved to Vancouver after accident, to carry out cargo operations. GREEN K MAX 1 left Vancouver on Apr 3, bound for Panama Canal, GOLDEN CECILIE left Vancouver on Apr 8, port of destination unknown. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/04/09/bulk-carriers-collision-british-columbia/
2. Panamax bulk carrier grounding, Gulf of Guinea
Panamax bulk carrier reportedly ran aground in Gulf of Guinea approaching port of destination, early in the morning Apr 8. Refloated, understood by own means, some 8 hours later, resumed sailing. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/04/08/panamax-bulk-carrier-grounding-gulf-of-guinea/
3. Vessel on fire, drifting in Med Update abandoned, 12 crew rescued
Apr 8 UPDATE: Confirmed it’s BELLATRIX, she issued distress signal in the morning Apr 8, reporting fire in engine room and requesting assistance. MRCC Italy was coordinating rescue operation, 12 crew, all said to be Russian, were rescued by nearby general cargo ship ARIFE (IMO 9266322), abandoned BELLATRIX is said to be towed to Aliaga Turkey, if salvors manage to extinguish fire. Italian sources report BELLATRIX to be Russia flagged, but according to all available databases, she’s registered under Bolivia flag and operated by Ukrainian company, so the crew should be either Ukrainian or mixed Ukrainian and Russian. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/04/08/vessel-on-fire-drifting-in-med-update-abandoned-12-crew-rescued/
4. European Commission attempts to designate ports where fast-track crew changes can take place
The European Commission (EC) is making moves to alleviate the crew change crunch brought about by travel restrictions from the coronavirus.
The EC has issued guidelines to provide crew with recommendations on health, repatriation and travel arrangements. The EC has also called on member states to create a network of ports where crew changes can take place without delays. https://splash247.com/european-commission-attempts-to-designate-ports-where-fast-track-crew-changes-can-take-place/
5. Under pressure PIL misses another charter payment
Splash has learnt troubled Singaporean liner Pacific International Lines (PIL) has missed another charter payment, but the company remains adamant it can get through the current crisis enveloping container shipping with the spread of coronavirus.
Having been late with a charter payment in February, PIL missed payment on another Japanese chartered in ship late last month and is still to pay its latest charter bill to the Japanese owner. https://splash247.com/under-pressure-pil-misses-another-charter-payment/
6. WTO predicts world trade could fall by up to 32%
A report published yesterday by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) says that world trade is expected to fall by up to 32% this year due to the disruption of economic activity caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. WTO economists predict the decline, which it says will range anywhere from 13% to 32%, will most likely be greater than the slump in trade during the global financial crisis of 2008. https://splash247.com/wto-predicts-world-trade-could-fall-by-up-to-32/
7. China comes out in support of applying mandatory efficiency rules to all the world’s existing ships
China and Brazil have submitted a paper to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in support of applying mandatory efficiency rules to all the world’s existing 60,000 ships, not just the trickle of newly built ships each year at a 25-30 year replacement rate. https://splash247.com/china-comes-out-in-support-of-applying-mandatory-efficiency-rules-to-all-the-worlds-existing-ships/
8. Norway Approves Floating Wind Farm to Power Equinor Oil and Gas Platforms
Norway has approved Equinor’s plans to develop and operate a floating wind farm that will provide power to five oil and gas platforms in the Norwegian North Sea. The Hywind Tampen wind farm will consist of eleven 8MW floating wind turbines to provide approximately 35 percent of the annual power demand of Equinor’s Snorre and Gullfaks platforms, making them the first in the world to receive power from a floating offshore wind farm. https://gcaptain.com/norway-approves-floating-wind-farm-to-power-equinor-oil-and-gas-platforms/
9. Idle Containership Fleet Appears Set to Hit All-Time Record
Idled containership capacity is expected to reach a record high of 3m teu within weeks, in the “worst capacity crisis the industry has ever seen”, according to new data from Alphaliner.
With over 250 sailings already withdrawn in the second quarter, the consultant forecasts that the lay-ups will push the idle fleet to a level twice that seen during the 2009 global financial crisis. https://gcaptain.com/idle-containership-fleet-appears-set-to-hit-all-time-record/
10. Essar Ports Cargo Handling Jumps Over 23 Per Cent To 49.22 MT In 2019-20
Essar Ports on Wednesday said its cargo handling grew over 23 per cent to 49.22 million tonnes (MT) in 2019-20.
Essar Ports is one of the country’s largest private sector port and terminal developers and operators and claims to have invested Rs 11,000 crore in developing world-class terminals in three states. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Essar+Ports+cargo+handling+jumps+over+23+per+cent+to+49.22+MT+in+2019-20+
